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Lot Essay
William Glackens' work underwent a stylistic change beginning in 1906, during the artist's second trip to Europe. Unlike his earlier, darker canvases which were influenced by Edouard Manet's style, Glackens expanded the range of his palette and began to work more freely in the handling of color. The present painting, Julia with Books, is a beautiful example of Glackens' new jewel-colored palette.
Julia with Books, painted in 1914, illustrates Glackens' venture into his new approach to painting. His lively palette incorporates bright hues of blues, greens and pinks, while still retaining darker tones of reds and purples seen in Julia's shirt and books. Glackens no longer paints with broad and vigorous brushstrokes, but applies pigment in a softer manner.
Glackens' ability to develop a highly personal Impressionistic technique and to translate the feminine qualities of a beautiful young girl onto canvas owe a strong influence to Auguste Renoir. Dr. Albert Barnes of Philadelphia was an avid collector of both artists' work and for whom Glackens served as an art advisor. According to Forbes Watson in his monograph on the artist published in 1923, although Glackens' work was clearly influenced by Renoir, it has a more straightforward and genuine American approach than his French counterpart. "His painting tradition is French, but his point of view is American...The whole attitude is American. The subject is seen through American eyes."
Albert E. Gallatin wrote, "It is interesting to follow Mr. Glackens' artistic growth, to see how his art has developed. Like all genuine artists, he has never been satisfied with his work, but has ever been an investigator, a seeker after new knowledge, hoping to increase his accomplishments...which disclose his genius at its best." ("William Glackens," Magazine of Art, May 1916, vol. 2, p. 263)
Julia with Books, painted in 1914, illustrates Glackens' venture into his new approach to painting. His lively palette incorporates bright hues of blues, greens and pinks, while still retaining darker tones of reds and purples seen in Julia's shirt and books. Glackens no longer paints with broad and vigorous brushstrokes, but applies pigment in a softer manner.
Glackens' ability to develop a highly personal Impressionistic technique and to translate the feminine qualities of a beautiful young girl onto canvas owe a strong influence to Auguste Renoir. Dr. Albert Barnes of Philadelphia was an avid collector of both artists' work and for whom Glackens served as an art advisor. According to Forbes Watson in his monograph on the artist published in 1923, although Glackens' work was clearly influenced by Renoir, it has a more straightforward and genuine American approach than his French counterpart. "His painting tradition is French, but his point of view is American...The whole attitude is American. The subject is seen through American eyes."
Albert E. Gallatin wrote, "It is interesting to follow Mr. Glackens' artistic growth, to see how his art has developed. Like all genuine artists, he has never been satisfied with his work, but has ever been an investigator, a seeker after new knowledge, hoping to increase his accomplishments...which disclose his genius at its best." ("William Glackens," Magazine of Art, May 1916, vol. 2, p. 263)